In Part 1 of this series about elevating your visibility, you learned the secret to a successful job search: Anonymity is bankruptcy.
So, now that you’ve begun exerting your distinctiveness ; expressing your vulnerability and acting smart (not like a smarty pants ); let’s advance our discussion by exploring 12 daily practices to turn approachability into hire-ability!
1. Be radically honest.
Next time someone says, “Hey Karen — how’s it going?” respond by cheerfully saying, “Still unemployed!” Three things will happen:
- He will appreciate your candor
- He will become one more person aware of your situation,
- He will become more likely to help you find a job.
2. Become the observed.
You attend chamber meetings, BNI events, job expos and trade shows to look for job openings, right? Well, let me ask you this: When was the last time you were the guest speaker?
Really? Never? Wow. Try this: E-mail every single c hamber of c ommerce d irector in your city. Tell them you have an educational and entertaining presentation based on your expertise and career history that’s perfect for their membership.
If they ask what company you’re with, be radically honest and say, “Actually, I’ve been unemployed for six months, and I’ve had a lot of time to practice my presentation!” They’ll love you. And so will the audience, if you do it right.
When was the last time you gave a public presentation?
3. Blog every single day.
By sharing your expertise with the world, you will accomplish a few things: (1) Prove to people that you deliver insight, not just knowledge, (2) Boost your web presence, and (3) Accumulate a reservoir of resources to e-mail prospective employers.
Example: Imagine if, at the end of your thank-you e-mail to someone who just interviewed you, you included a P.S. that read, “By the way, Mr. Randall, I wrote a blog post last week about the four biggest mistakes made by HR d irectors. Just a few things I’ve learned in my career over the years. I hope I can help your company avoid these same mistakes!”
Why aren’t you blogging yet?
4. Print business cards.
“But I don’t have a job!” What’s your point? All the more reason to have your own business card.
Make them yourself. Use Vista Print, pay the 50 bucks, and carry a dozen with you wherever you go.
Tips: Red stands out. Pictures aren’t a bad idea. And for the love of God, don’t use “Papyrus” as your font. Oh, and bring them wherever you go. Because you never know. Everybody is somebody’s somebody.
How many opportunities have you missed because you didn’t have a card with you?
5. Change your e-mail.
If your e-mail address contains the letters “AOL” in it, change it. If you use it, people will prejudge your messages before they read them. People will also prejudge you before they meet you.
Here’s the reality: AOL is for old people, novices and technologically deficient professionals. Don’t be one of those people. Get your own Web site, or, if you must, use Gmail.
What does your e-mail address say about your professionalism?
6. Don’t be clever or cute.
Clever is using other people’s conversations as springboards for your little jokes that nobody thinks are funny but your cat. It annoys people and won’t encourage anyone to hire you.
Cute is sending a pink ribbon on your resume because you think it will get you noticed. Nope. It won’t. You need to be smart and strategic. Like creating an online video resume. That’s smart.
How much money is being cute costing you?
Tips 7 - 12 and complete The Ladders article
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